A deadly truck attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day left at least 15 people dead and dozens more injured when a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd of revelers in the French Quarter.
The attacker, identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old US Army veteran from Texas, was killed in a shootout with police after the attack, which took place around 3:15 AM.
The FBI confirmed that an ISIS flag was found in the vehicle, and the agency is investigating Jabbar’s potential ties to terrorist organizations.
The attack, described as “hell bent” on causing carnage, involved Jabbar driving a white Ford F-150 pickup truck at high speed into pedestrians before exiting the vehicle and engaging in a shootout with police. Two officers were wounded but are in stable condition. Additionally, two homemade bombs were discovered and neutralised.
US President Joe Biden condemned the attack as “despicable,” noting that Jabbar had posted videos online expressing ISIS-inspired views hours before the incident.
Authorities are currently searching for possible accomplices, with the FBI stating that they do not believe Jabbar acted alone.
The attack has drawn widespread international condemnation. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with the victims, stating that the city of New Orleans, “so dear to the hearts of the French,” had been struck by terrorism. Other world leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, also condemned the violence and extended their condolences to the victims’ families.
Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey joined in denouncing the attack, with Turkish officials expressing hope that the motive would be revealed soon and those responsible would be held accountable. The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, also condemned the attack, stressing that “there is no excuse for such violence.”
As the investigation continues, questions remain about any connections between the New Orleans attack and another deadly explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside a hotel owned by US President-elect Donald Trump in Las Vegas on the same day.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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